TENNIS in DEPTH.

American John Isner won the first title of his career with a three-set victory over French veteran Arnaud Clement in Saturday’s final of the Heineken Open, a final Australian Open tune-up.

The big-serving Isner used 22 aces to take down Clement 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2). The American belted a total of 78 aces in his five matches during the tournament.

The 24-year-old Isner battled off match point in the 12th game of the final set to set the score to deuce. The 6-foot-9 Isner then fired a pair of aces to send the match into a decisive tiebreak, where he cruised to victory.

Isner’s only other appearance in a title match occurred in 2007, when he lost to fellow American Andy Roddick in Washington.

The 32-year-old Clement dropped to 4-7 in his career finals, with his last title coming in DC in 2006.

Isner leads the all-time series with the 2001 Aussie Open runner-up Clement, 2-0. The American also beat the Frenchman in a Sydney qualifying match in 2008.

With the victory, Isner took home $64,250.

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